Automatic regulator for fuel-oil-burning apparatus



J. T. MCTRNAHAN Dag, l, ggl.

AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR FUEL OIL BURNNG APPARATUS Filed Sept. l5 P32?,

/M/ENTUR: Q

'ATTORNEY' De 36' 1924- waas? J. T. MCTRNHN AUTOMATIC RlECUL'l'.;0R FOR FUEL OIL BURNING APPARATU Filed Sept. 15. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY www? ec. l, E924.

1.11 MGTARNAHM@ AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR FUEL OIL BURNING APPARATUS Sheets-She'et :5

Filed Sept, 3.6, 1922 /fvl/ENTOR-f ATTQRMEY Dec. 16, 1924- ,59,787'

4 J. T. MQTARNAHAN AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR FUEL OIL BURNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. l5 l922 4 VSheets-Sheet 4.

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Je? w7ff/LW- 5MM/M ATTURNEY HAN, a citizen of 'the United States, residing the draft for mined pressure,

Patented Dec. 16, 1924. i

TOEN T. ldcTARNAHAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

1,519,787 ATENT OFFICE BY OPERATION OF LAW. TO

RALPH H. CAHOUET. TRUSTEE IN BANKRUPTCY 0F MCTARNAHAN 'FUEL OIL 'BURNING CORPORATION, CHUSETTS.

OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSA- AUTOMATIC REGULATOR FOR FUEL-OIL-BURNING AIPARATUS.

Application filed September 15, 1922. Serial No. 588,418.

T0 all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. MoTAnNaat Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvei ents in Automatic Regulators for Fue \Oillurning Apparatus, of' which the following is a specification. The invention to be hereinafter described relates to apparatus for regulating combustion, and more particularly to apparatus employing oil as a fuel.

In generating steam under certain conditions, it is desirable to maintain the steam substantially at 'a predetermined pressure while the load or steam demand varies.

Oneof the purposes' of the present invention, therefore, is to provide regulating apparatus wherebywthe supply of fuel oil, and steam or other suitable atomizwing agent delivered to the burner or burners, if such agent is employed, may be automatically regulated in response to Variations in the pressure of the steam developed by the generator. y

Another' purpose of the invention is to provide means for automatically regulating in response to variations in the pressure ot -the steam developed by the generator', and

synchronously with the'fuel oil regulation, to the end that the air supply may be properly proportional to the fuel supply for economical and 'most efiicient combustion of the fuel.

In order that the pressure of the steam developed by the generator shall not vary substantially'from 'the desired predeterit is essentialthat the regulating apparatus shall be promptly responsive to a slight rise or fall with respect tu the predetermined V.steam pressure. 'lhe -Supplv of fuel oil and the utomizing fluid raising the steam therefor-and the draft, should be.A increased in case the steam pressure drops, but this increase should be so arrested as to avoid ressure substantially above the predetermined pressure desired. On the other hand, if the steam pressure rises, the supply of fuel oil and the atomizing fluid-therefor and the draft should/be reduced, but the reduction should be so arthe furnace of the generator rested as to avoid lowering the steam pressure substantiallyy below the predetermined steam pressure desired. i

'lhe construction of the regulating apparatus is such that the supply of fuel oil and the atomizing fluid and the -draft are. automatically controlled to meet the above requirements.

In carrying the invention into practical eilect, a valve is provided for controlling -the. supply of fuel oil' to the burner or burners, and another' valve may be provided 'for controlling the supply of steam or other atomizing agent to the burner orburners, and means is provided for automatically controlling said valves in'response to variations in the steam` pressure, and means is provided positively to compensate for variations in the steam pressure. That is, if the steam pressure increases,rthe valve openings are automatically reduced, and tho compensating means operates automatically ,to offset the effect of the increase 4in-steam pressure, thereby to prevent more than a slight closure of the valves. On the other hand, if the pressure of the steam lowers, the regulating apparatus automatically increases the opening of the valves, andthe compensating means operates to prevent opening of the valves more than a slight extent. lf the pressure of the steam continues to risc or fall after the compensating means has oper-ated to arrest the reduction or increase in the valve openings, the regulating apparatus operates' automatically, progressively, gradually to reduce or increase the valve openings` until the boiler pressure has returned tothe predetermined pressure d e- The consequence is that the steam pressure is not raised 'or lowered substantiallyl with respect to the predetern'iincd steam pressure. i

In some 'instances the regulating apparatus may be cx'uployed to control the supply of fuel oil andv atomizing fluifl, and to control th'e draft for a plurality Aof boilers. Under certain conditions it may'be, desirable to shut oil' one or more of these boilers in accordance .with the supply, of steam desired. If all of the boilers are to be fired,`a. greater supply of fuel oil and atomizing lfluid will be required, whereas, if oner 'or more boilers is to be shut down, less fuel oil l vided with baffles 9 and 11.

and atomizing fluid will be required. Another purpose of the invention, therefore, is to provide manually operable means .for adjusting the fuel oil and atomizing fluid control valves toregulate the supply of oil and atomizing fluid in accordance with the number of boilers operated. 1

With the aforesaid and other purposes in view, the character of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following description oi'l one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectionA through a steam generator equipped with regulating apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig?. 1 a. view oa modified form of the apparatus, in which the regulating valves are employed to control thesupply of o1l to two sets of burners;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of a portion of the regulating apparatus; l

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, certain parts being shown in section;

' Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the fuel oil and atoraizing fluid regulating valves anda portion of the mechanism for automatically rotatively adjusting the valves; and` Fig. 5 is a plan of a portion ot the .regulating apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and morepar- ,ticularly to Fig. 1, a boiler is shown therein of the Babcock & Wilcox type, comprising a drum 1 communicating with 'a front header 3 and a rear header 5, said headers being connected by inclined water tubes 7 pro- Beneath the fluid regulating valves respectively.

water tubes is the combustion chamber "13 A having a front Wall 15 and a rear Wall 17.

The gases of combustion leaving the combustion chamber, cross and recross the inclined water tubes, and leave the boiler through the flue 19 leading to the stack.

A fuel oil burner or burners such as the burner 21 of well knofvi'n ctmstructio-n, may project through the front wall 15 ol the combustion chamber so as to deliver the fue] and atomizing fluid to the combustion chamber.

The fuel oil may be forced from a suitable source of supply to the burner by the pump 23 connected by a pipe 25 with a valve The oil regulating valve, in the present instance, comprisesa cylindrical casing 51 having a union pipe connection 53 connected to the oil supply pipe 25 and having a union pipe connection 55 connected to the pipe 29.

Mounted in the cylindrical casing l'isa rotary sleeve valve 57 having diametricully opposed ports 59 and 61 for communication" with the union pipe connections 53 and 551 respectively. The valve 57 is fast on a. stem 63 projecting through a stuiiing box 65 mounted on the head 66 of the valve casmg 51, said stem being adapted to be rocked by means to be described, for givin the valve 57 rotative adjustment to cause t e ports 59 and 61 of the valve to turnwith respect tc the pipeconnections 53 and 55, thereby to varythe effective openings of said ports and regulate the supply of oil.

As stated, in some instances 'it is desirable manually to regulate the fuel oil valve. To accomplish this, inthe present instance, a

plug 67 is mounted in the sleeve valve 51 and is prevented from rotating therein by a spline 68. To adjust the plug longitudinally with respect to the sleeve valve to vary the eil'ective openings of the valvel ports 59 and 61, a stem 69 maybe threaded in a bore inthe plug 67, and mayextend thlough a stuffing box 71 mounted on the head of the valve casing 51. The outer end of the stern 69 is provided with a hand wheel .75. The construction is such that the hand wheel may be manually rotated to adjust the plug longitudinally with respect -to the sleeve valve to vary the etl'eotive openings ofthe valve ports 59 and G1 as required. f

Having described the valve for regulating the supply of -luel oil to the burner, next will be described the Vvalve for regulating fthe supply of atomizing uid to the. burner..

This Valre' comprises a cylindrical,i casing 77 (Figs. and 5) having union pipe' connections'79-and 81 respectively;- connected to the steam supply pipes 33 and 37 Mountedv 27 for regulating the supply of'fuel oil, and.v

to be more fully hereinafter described. The valve' is connected by apipc 29' with the burner 21.

The atomizing fluid, in the present 'instance, steam, may be conducted to the burner froml the steam main 31 by a pipe 33 leading to the valve 35 for regulating the supply of atomizing steam, and -t-o be more fully hereinafter described. The valve 35is connected by a pipe 37 with the burner.

in the cylindrical casing 77 isaslceve valve S3 having portsS and 87 for communication with the pipe connections 79 and 81 re-.

spectively.' The sleeve valve has e, stem 89 secured thereto projecting through the' stuffing box 91 mounted on the head 93 of the cylindrical casing,`said stem beingy adapted to be rocked by means to be described, to give the sleeve valve rotative adjustment and vary the relation of the ports 8`5 and`87with' respect to the pipe-.connectionsv 79 and 81 respectively, thereby to vary the effective end of the cross head, 'and its opposite end openings of'sald ports and regulate the supconnected to an arm 149 4secured to the upper ly of atomlzing steam as required.. g l end of a piston rod ll'connected to a piston As stated, under certain conditions it 1S 153 in a cylinder 155 mounted on a housinr 5 desirable manually to regulate the effective 157 supported on the base 41 referred to.' h 70 opening of the atomlzing steam regulating To move the piston 153 in the cylinder valve. To accomplish this, in the present 155, a pilot valve 159 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) may instance, a plug 95 may b e mounted in the be provided, and may communicate with opsleev'e valve 83, and 1s prevented from rotat` `posite ends ofthe 4cylind`er'155 through ports ing therein hy a spline 97. To adjust the 161 and 163. The pilot valve may have a .75 plug longitudinally with respect to the pipe 165 for admitting hydraulic pressure sleeve valve to vary the effective openings thereto from any suitable source, and the o1' 'the ports 85 and 8.7, a stem 99 may be polit valve may have an exhaust pipe 167 to threaded into a bore 1n the plug, and may allow release oiithe hvdraulic pressure. 1

proyect through a stuiling box 101 mounted To control the pilot ivalve, it maybe proon the head 103 of the valve casing 77. Fast vided with a stem 169 connected by a yoke on the outer end ofthe stem is aliand wheel 171 with the upper end of a rod 173, the 105. The construction is such that the hand lower end of which is pivotallv connected wheel may he manually rotated, thereby to to a beam or lever 175. An end portion of move the plug 95 longitudinally with rethis lever projef-ts into the housing 157, and* spect to the sleeve valve so vas to vary the has lugs 177 provided with knife edges for effective openings of the ports 85 and 87 to engagement with a forked bracket 179 seregulate the supply of atomizing steam as cured to and projecting down from the top required. v o'f'the housing.

Having described :the construction 'of the Mounted in the housing is a diaphragm oil and atolnizing steam regulating valves, 181 of rubber o'r other suitable flexiblema next will be describedi means for automati terial, and supported on the diaphragm is cally, rotatively adjusting said valves to rega button 183 provided with a knife edge o ulate the supply of oil and steam to the 185 on which rests the lower edge of the 0 burner. lever 175,v Beneath the diaphragm is a 95 This means, in the present instance of the steam pressure chamber 187 connected by a invention, comprises an elongated plate 107 'pipe 139 with the steam main 31 referred'. figs. 3, 4 and 5) having a groove 109 reto. At a point set in somewhat from the ceivmg a cross head 111. Projecting from outer end of the lever 175 is pivotally conthe. cross head are lugs 113 and 115 (Fig. 3) .nected a rod 191 having a'disk 193 at thel ,10 carrying'an inclined guide 117 (Fig. 4) adlower end thereof for supportinga plu- 'ustahly connected to said lugs by bolts 119 rality of weights 195, the number of which and 121 respectively entered through elonmay be varied according to conditions as regated :dots 123 and 125 in the terminals of quired.

said guide, the construction being such that Mounted on the'lever is a carriage 197 d to roll along the the guide may be set indifferent positions having wheels 199 adapte of angular adjustment. The stem 63, reupper edge of the lever. Arod 201 depends ferr-ed to. for the fuel oil regulating valve, from the carriage and serves to support a has a crank 127 fast thereon, provided with. plurality of weights203.the number of which' 5 aroller 129 projecting into an elongated slot may be varied according to conditions as no required. The carriage and Weights serve as 131 of thc guide 117.

(')n the opposite sides of the lugs 113 and a poise for varying the effective pressure 115 from the guide 117 is a guide'133 havon the upper side of the diaphragm in oping elongated slots 135 and 137 through position to the steam pressure on'the under if" which the bolts 119 and 121 respectively proside of the diaphragm. H5

ject.v The construction is such that the guide It is desirable that when :the pist-on 153 133 may` be set indiferent positions of anis moved downward, the poise shallbe moved inward on the lever, and when the piston is gular adjustment. A Fast on the stem.89 of the steam regulatmoved upward, the poise shall be moved a crank 139 having a roller 141 outward on the lever, in order to compensate to an elongated slot 143 in the for variations in thegpressure of the steam .guide 133. The construction is suf-h that on the under side ofthe diaphragm. i'x-h'en the cross head is reciprocated by means To accomplish this, 1n the present instance, to be described, the guides 117 and 133 will a pair of arms 205 fast on the piston stem i slide in respect to the crank rollers 129and '151, are connected to the upper ends of rods 141 respectively, thereby rocking the fuel 207 which extend downefard along the cylinoil and steam valves to regulate the supply -der-at opposite sides of the pilot valve and at opposite sides of the` leve"r. The lower ends of oil and steam' to the burner.

'Io-reciprocate the cross head, a rod 14.5 of sald 'rods are connected to a head -209 1-30 may have one' end connected to the upper having'lugs 211 'thereoxr carrying lthe pin "if ing' valye, is 120 .prtuectmg 1n the Asteam `-developed by the generator, a

.- the uptake flue 19.

213 connected to the lower end of a chain 215 or other suitable flexible member. This chain projects upwardly over a roller4 217 carried'by thehousing 157, andthe opposite end of the chain is connected to the carriage 19T. chain 219 orotherflexible member which extends over a roller 221 carried by .the outer end ofthe lever, and the opposite end of'said chain'is connected to a rod 223 carrying a plurality of weights 225, the number of which may be varied according to conditions as required.

In order automatically to regulate draft in response to variations in the pressureo ,1) may be provided in lhis damper may have an arm- 229 secured-thereto connected by a damper 227 (Fig.

flexible member 231 with an eye 233 attached to the piston stem 151, said flexible member .being guided by suitable rollers 235 and 237. When the ,pistonmoves downward it will rock the damper' in-one direction, and a weight 239 attached to the' arm 229 will serve to rock the damper in the op'positedirection on upward movement of the piston,

thereby automatically to regulate the draftl in response to variations in the steam pressure operating through the diaphragm and the compensating mechanism to control theA jmovements of the tothe damper.

While the" damper is shown herein-'aspiston which is connected mounted in the uptake flue, itV will be understood that the damper may be located in 'the intake for conducting air tothe combustion chamber.

The operation of the regulating'apparatu will be readily understood from the foregoing,r description thereof. If the pressure of thesteam developed by the generator rises above the desired predetermined steam pressure, the diaphravm 181 will be flexed lupward, thereby roc ring the beam or ever 175 upward. This movement of the lever will operate through the rod 173 to shift the pilot valve to admit hydraulic pressure into the cylinder 155 at the under side of the piston 153. This will cause the piston to move up-v ward, and the latter through the rod 151 and the rods 207, will let out the chain 215 and enable the weights 225 to operate through .the chain 219 to cause the oiseto move outward on the lever, there y increasing the ressure on the diaphragm and causing the atter to flex downward, shift the pilot valve, and cut off the supply of hydraulic pressure to the'under side of the piston 153.

The upward movement of the pistou will also operate through the arm 149 and rod 145 to move the cross head 111 upward, thereby carrying the guides 117 and 133 up.- ward, and owing to the obliquity ofsaxd guides, the cranks 127 and 139 will be given Also connected to the carriage isa' I a i'oekingvmovement, thereby adjusting the "steam developed .by the generator drops below the predetermined standard' steam pressure, the diaphragm, 181 will flex down ward, andthe lever 175 will rock downward. 80

'thereby shifting the pilot valve in a direction opposite to its previous movement, and admitting hydraulic pressure into the cylinderabove the piston. YThis will cause the piston to move downward, and `through'the 85 rod 151, the rods 207 .and-thevchain 215, will draw the poise inward along the lever, thereby reducing the pressure on the upper sidev of the"diaphragin, and allowing the steam pressure beneath the diaphragm'to 90 flexthe latter upward and operate the pilot` .valve to cutoff the supply of hydraulic pressure to the upper side-ofthe piston; a

-The downward movement ofthe piston will operate tluough the rod 151, the arm 149 and the1 rod 145 to move the cross head 111 downward. This 'will carry the guides 117 an'il 133 downward, and owing to the Obliquity of the latter, the cranks 127 and 139 will be rocked in a direction opposite 100 to their previous movement, thereby to increase the opening of the oil and steam valves so as to increase the amount of oil and steam delivered to the burner.

The downward movement of the piston .will also operate through the flexible memgressively and gradually receive movement until `the valves and the damper have been properly regulated to bring the steam pressure to the predetermined pressure.

The regulating apparatus is delicately and promptly responsive to variations in steam pressure, so that it does not substantially increase or decrease beyond the predetermined steam pressure desired.

The motive fluidfor the .piston ift the cylindftuider the control of t ic pilo lve, 125 preferably is water, .since the latter d -is positive in its action,` and therefore, ove- Aments of the pilot vulve admittng e l1 .draulic prcssure'to the up )er or .lower si e of the piston, ,will prompt y initiate movenient thereof and promptly effect regulation o f the valves and the draft.

The Valves and the draft are regulated synchronously, and therefore, the draft will be promptly increased or decreased on increase or decrease in the fuel oil supply, so that the droit will always be properly proportioued'in respect to the fuel supply' to insure most ellicicnt combustion.

It will be -iioted that the oil andatninizi-ngf steam regulating valvesl are/similar in construction and operation, and therefore, they may be employed for controllin, i;l the supply of any fluid as required. :For instance, if the burners are mechanical burners, that is, of the type in which the atoniization or spray of the fuel is accomplished without admitting steam or compressed -air into the burner, the pipe leading to the steam yalve may be disconnected from the steam main and connected to the oil supply. and the valve may be employed. yfor regulating the oil supply. Under such conditions, oneof the valves may be employed to regulate the supply of oil to the burners for one steam generating unit, and the other valve may be employed for regulating the supply of oil to 'the burners of another steam generating unit.

Referring to Fig. 1, the' valves 27 and 35 are employed for controlling the supply of oil to two sets of burners. A pipe 241 leads from the oil supply to the-valve 27, and a pipe 243 leading from said .valve is connected by branch pipes 245 ,with a pair of burners 247. A pipe 249 leads from4 the oil supply to the valve 35,fand. a, pipe 251 leadi'ng from said valve is'connected by branch pipes 253 with a pair of burners 255. The

construction is such that the automatic regulation ofthe valve 27 will control the supply of fuel oil to theburners 247, and the regulation of the ,valve 35 will control the supply of oil to the burners 255.

Also, if a mechanical type of burner is employed, under certain conditons the steam regulating valve may be cut out of operation, and the oil valve alone may be employed automatically to regula-te the supply of oil to the burner or burners..

It will, he understood ,that the invention fuel 'oilandjetomling' fluid to the burner,

is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that variousdeviations may be inade therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in' combination, a boiler, a fuel oil bui-nei" therefor, pipes 'for conducting ves'ior controlling the supply of oil and fluid delivered by the pipes to the burner, a cylinder, a piston therein, a pilot valve for controlling admission of motive fluid to the cylinder toactuate the piston', a stem for the piston, means connected to the stem and having inclined slots therein, tween said slots and the valves for adjusting the latter on'inovement of said means, an means responsive to variations in the pressure of the steam developed by' the boiler for operating the pilot valve and having provision for promptly automatically com? pensating for variations in the steam pressure, thereby to restrct the piston to movements of slight extent.

2. An automatic regulator for the feed of oil and atomizing fluid to a. burner or burners, comprising, in combination, a support,A an oil regulating valve and an atomizing fluid. regulating valve mounted on the support, a cylinder' mounted on said support'-V I adjacent saidvalves, a piston insaid cylinder, a pilot of motive fiuid to the cylinder to actuate the piston, astem for the piston, connections between said lstem and said oil and atomizin fluid' regulatinglvalves including incline guide and follower means whereby' 'movements of theapiston. andstem cause adjustvmerits of said valves with,slighter moveinentsthan those of said; 'piston'and stem. and means mounted on said-'support for 'op7 eratingu the pilot-valve and ada'pte'dto'refv spond tOWariatiGnS-in pressure of steam depositively actuating the pilot 4valve auto- 'I matically to compensate for variations in the steam'pressure and restrict the'pistn'td connections bevalve for controlling admission' Y '85 

